The Unplugged Getaway Guide

'Gypset Travel' by Julia Chaplin

In our February 2013 issue, we named Stromboli, Italy one of our favorite off-the-grid escapes, citing its "deserted coves of black lava sand... lush with caper bushes, lemon and palm trees, cacti, and bougainvillea." It's a tough place to find, even harder to reach, and the only reason we know about it is Julia Chaplin's 'Gypset Travel,' a coffee table tome dedicated to 10 of the world's best bohemian getaways.

The author defines gypsetter as a lifestyle based more on creativity than cash, but it really refers to that affected trustafarian tribe Chaplin is clearly a part of. And while we relate more to the Paul Theroux set when it comes to travelogues, we have to hand it to her for finding hideouts with the perfect vibe – decadent and absolutely deserted until the very moment you feel like swapping stories with someone like Richard Branson.

Going a bit farther yields a big upgrade in paradise, and no one recognizes this better than Chaplin. From the new Ayahuasca capital of Alto Paraiso, Brazil ("land is relatively cheap [and] parties rage till the last person drops," she writes) to Cabo Polonio, Uruguay ("at sundown the liquor store is mobbed [and] people make due [with] the light of the moon"), the author identifies far corners of the world that, in her words, are "animated by new energy and a high level of experimentation."

Ultimately, we'd be stoked if Chaplin were our travel agent, and this is a worthwhile treat for anyone with wanderlust in your life. And if he or she lives with you, leave their copy open to one of the surf safari spreads (we dig pages 108 and 109), which echo the desolate-yet-happening beaches documented in films including 'The Endless Summer II.' Just don't give them your TripAdvisor login. Your savings account will be all the better for it. [$45; assouline.com]